Effect of Cow's Milk Kefir on Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA), Haemoglobin, and Ferritin Levels of Anemic Adolescent Girls

SCFA (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) levels in fresh feces of adolescent girls, using the GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) Method, were measured before (0 months) and after the intervention (2 months), using a ratio scale.

The examination procedure included collecting feces in the field according to the procedure at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uXklwFuC-1rnQ1Anim86b7-9pqLSheIz. Fresh feces samples were collected immediately, by storing them in a cool box (to maintain the quality of feces so that it remains stable during storage and transportation, and avoid the maturation process that can affect the results of lab tests, so that the results of the lab analysis carried out can be accurate and valid), and then immediately taken to the laboratory to quantify each of the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the sample.

Adolescent girls' hemoglobin values in the blood taken from the median cubital vein, using the hematology analyzer method (unit g/dl), were measured before (0 months) and after the intervention (2 months), using a ratio scale.

Ferritin content in the blood of adolescent girls taken from the median cubital vein, using the Ferritin ELISA method (unit µg/L), was measured before (0 months) and after the intervention (2 months), using a ratio scale

The amount of nutrients iron, folic acid, protein, vitamin C, zinc, energy and fat that enter the body of adolescent girls per day obtained from food and beverages, using the Food Record method carried out for 3 days, consisting of 2 times weekday and 1 time weekend, analyzed using the Nutrisurvey 2007 application, measured before (0 months) and after the intervention (2 months), using a ratio scale.

The Z-score or standard deviation (SD) value of adolescent girls after calculating the ratio of body weight in kilograms (kg) squared with height in meters (m) correlated with age, was analyzed using the WHO AnthroPlus application, measured before (0 months) and after the intervention (2 months), using a ratio scale.

Weight values were obtained by weighing adolescent girls using digital scales with an accuracy of 0.1 kg. Height values were obtained by measuring the height of adolescent girls using a microtoise with an accuracy of 0.1 cm, and age was obtained by asking about the date/month/year of birth of adolescent girls. Using a questionnaire.

The physiological process experienced by adolescent girls, namely periodic bleeding from the uterus accompanied by the release of the endometrial wall every month, was obtained through a questionnaire, using an ordinal scale, with the categories (1). Normal if the menstrual cycle ranges from 21-35 days, and the length of menstruation is 3-7 days, and (2). Abnormal if the menstrual cycle ranges <21 days and >35 days, and the duration of menstruation is <3 days and >7 days

Complaints of watery or loose bowel movements that occur more than 3 times a day were obtained through a questionnaire, using an ordinal scale, with the categories (1). No diarrhea if the frequency of bowel movements ranged from 1-2 times/day, with a solid consistency, and (2). Diarrhea, the frequency of bowel movements ranging ≥3 times/day, watery, thin consistency